Sunday, August 30, 2009

I try to keep my eye on available mods in the area, so here are a few that are new to the market over the last few weeks. Some are in the expected areas, but some I hope are a surprise. Like the first two estate homes between Columbiana and Chelsea. Rural mod -- who knew?!

From the early 1970s, these two are a little later than the homes I typically feature. But it is clear they were dream homes when built and still have a lot of panache. For $639,500 you get soaring ceilings, 14.5 acres, a barn and a private pond.http://tinyurl.com/nfo3wq

If you can find a bit more change under the sofa cushions you can get this nifty Asian-inspired place with 44 acres and a bigger pond! A mere $695,000.http://tinyurl.com/me7cbp

Now, let's come back into town. This one in Hoover is sort of traditional-ranch-meets-mod. So if you just want to dip your toe into the mod world, but have 6(!) bedrooms in a nice neighborhood, this is the one for you for $326,000. (Check out the mailbox -- it's a scale model of the house!).http://tinyurl.com/mx4x5s

Now over to Vestavia for $319,500. To me, this one looks like a cover shot for Better Homes and Gardens, ca. 1967 -- landscaping and all.http://tinyurl.com/m2tl7a

The next two are in Crestline Gardens, which is a city tract from 1958 that was built about the same time Eastwood Mall (R.I.P.) was built (the first air conditioned mall in the South!) It's really the only good-sized mod tract in Birmingham. The houses are small, often 2/1 or 3/1, and there are maybe 5 floor plans to choose from. But they are close-in, convenient to the interstate and have remain reasonably priced. Elder is the main drag through the neighborhood. Get yourself to Montevallo Road and Elder, go South on Elder, and you will be in amongst 'em.

I really like this one in Forest Park -- probably the premier city neighborhood (folks in Redmont and Highland Park may argue the point, but . . . they don't have the mods) For $229,900, a deal.http://tinyurl.com/m4xogp

And just to show that mods often appear where least expected, here is one in Smithfield, a city neighborhood that has its challenges. But this is a lot of hip for $60,500!http://tinyurl.com/lwdffr

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Homewood is adjacent to Birmingham just over the mountain and in the shadow of Vulcan's substantial backside. Homes here are always in demand. Small bungalows in Edgewood, Spanish Haciendas in Hollywood, and ranches in the Saulter Road area just north of Lakeshore Drive are filled with young families who like the convenience and the schools. The city is also home to Southern Living Magazine, for which MCM does not typically serve as an inspiration. Nonetheless, I was on a quest.

This first one is a beauty that stands on Lakeshore Drive between Green Springs and I-65. It is canted on the lot, likely to catch a view of the lake that is no longer there. I have adored this place for years:

This one is on a bend on Saulter Road and just oozes Rat Pack, doesn't it? Check out the use of molded block, the brickwork on the carport column, and the lilypad-like front steps. If anyone knows the owners of this gem, tell them I'm dying to get inside.

There is also a cute little cluster of mods on Valley View, just off Valley Avenue: